How PR and marketing pros can handle negative feedback

Criticism, even when constructive, can be a hard pill to swallow. Here’s how you can make the most of it—and to know which comments to ignore.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

What separates your average internet troll from someone who wants to offer genuine, constructive criticism?

That’s a tough one to answer, even for the most-seasoned digital marketer or PR pro.

Many of us, at some point, have had what I call “internet confidence”: it’s where you feel empowered to go after someone, perhaps even spouting off, because you knew the internet’s veil of anonymity protected you.

If you’ve done that, you probably also know that it often turns out badly. No one wins when people get into a snark war on online.

As a news reporter, I thought it would be a great idea for me to engage with readers who had comments about the stories I was reporting on—but it was a terrible decision. No matter how measured or rational I thought my responses were, they were often met with biting vitriol. I learned my lesson.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.